Iran on Friday accused the United States of launching an illegal war against Tehran and warned that it would respond immediately and forcefully to any fresh military action by Washington or Israel.
Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, delivered the warning during a UN Security Council meeting discussing the situation in the Middle East.
He criticized Western nations for allegedly misrepresenting developments in the region while overlooking the underlying causes of ongoing tensions.
Darzi said Iran attended the meeting to explain how the current situation had emerged. He accused several Security Council members, particularly Western representatives, of presenting those responsible for aggression as victims.
Expressing dissatisfaction with their statements, he described their positions as examples of double standards and hypocrisy.
Responding to comments from the US representative, Darzi argued that Washington lacked the legal, political and moral authority to criticize or accuse Tehran.
“The United States is the aggressor, not the victim,” he told the council.
He further accused Washington of initiating an unjustified military campaign against Iran in breach of the UN Charter and basic principles of international law.
Iran Says Diplomacy Remains an Option
Darzi also alleged that the United States had violated Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, attacked civilian facilities, threatened its population with destruction and imposed military and maritime restrictions.
The Iranian envoy maintained that no UN Security Council resolution could remove a member state’s fundamental right to defend itself against an armed attack.
He emphasized that Iran remained committed to diplomatic engagement, rejecting claims that Tehran was unwilling to pursue a peaceful solution.
“Iran has never closed the door to diplomacy,” he said.
Nevertheless, Darzi cautioned that any new military offensive by the United States or Israel would trigger an immediate response from Iran.
He stressed that Tehran would retaliate decisively and without hesitation, targeting the source of any aggression regardless of its location.
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